Descriptive Summary
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke
UniversitySussman, BenjaminBenjamin Sussman papers 1940-1995Material in English45.0 Linear Feet33,750 ItemsFor current information on the location of
these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.Benjamin Sussman (1921-2003) was an advertising executive and founder of the Sussman, Jordan and Pollacheck advertising agency. He also worked for Petersen Publishing and as a freelance writer.Accession (2009-0238) consists of Sussman's original library of clippings on a wide variety of subjects, including a large section of vintage publications, that he used as inspiration and information in his work. The clippings include advertisements as well as articles, and are sorted by subject or topic using Sussman's own filing system. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Copyright Notice

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

The Benjamin Sussman Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 2009.

Processing Information

Accessioned and minimally processed by Meghan Lyon, October 2009

Encoded by Meghan Lyon, October 2009

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2009-0238

This collection is minimally processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:

DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Biographical Note

Benjamin Sussman was born in Connecticut and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the Pratt Institute before joining the Marines and serving in the South Pacific during World War II.

Sussman began working in advertising in Los Angeles in the 1950s, where he worked for Thrifty Drug Store and Builders Emporium. He eventually opened Ben Sussman and Associates with his friend and partner, Jack Wallace. This later became Sussman, Jordan and Pollachek, and had accounts with companies like Kal Kan and Suzuki Motorcycles.

Outside of his own advertising agency, Sussman also wrote articles and columns for Petersen Publishing, particularly

Motor Trend Magazine, and as a freelance writer for various advertising journals.
Collection Overview

Beginning in the 1940s, Sussman maintained an extensive library of clippings on a wide array of subjects, as well as a collection of vintage publications, which he drew upon in his research. This collection includes the majority of that library, as well as excerpts and clippings of Sussman's own writings. The collection includes advertisements as well as articles, and is sorted by subject or topic using Sussman's own filing system. Major themes include marketing, media, communications, production, design, merchandising and sales, publicity, industries and occupations, transportation, humans, animals, warfare, entertainment, holidays, and production sources.

Collection Arrangement

Materials have been kept in their original order and folders. Empty folders have been removed from the collection and are not listed in this finding aid. For access to Sussman's original inventory, please consult the Collection Control File.

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.